A26982:421
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called…
Richard Baxter's penitent confession and his necessary vindication in answer to a book called The second part of the mischiefs of separation, written by an unnamed author with a preface to Mr. Cantianus D. Minimis, in answer to his letter which extorted this publication.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 60. Accus. XLVII. Page 43 [That I sate down on the Sequestered Living of Mr. Dance at Kidderminster.] Ans. This is cautiously said: Not that I had a hand in Sequestring him, not that I took his living: But that I sate down on it: And Bishop Morley saith, [That he was a Man of an unblameable life.] But, I. He shall not hereby draw me to recite the Articles Sworn against him by as credible Men as any of his Neighbours. 2. I think that it is not a blameless life to undertake the Pastoral Care of Souls, and neither preach to them, nor be able to Expound the Creed; and to keep one as ignorant but much more vicious (Turner at Mitton) under him.
§ 60. Accus. XLVII. Page 43 [That I sate down on the Sequestred Living of Mr. Dance at Kiderminster.] Ans. This is cautelously said: Not that I had a hand in Sequestring him, not that I took his living: But that I sate down on it: And Bishop Morley saith, [That he was a Man of an unblameable life.] But, I. He shall not hereby draw me to recite the Articles Sworn against him by as credible Men as any of his Neighbours. 2. I think that it is not a blameless life to undertake the Pastoral Care of Souls, and neither preach to them, nor be able to Expound the Creed; and to keep one as ignorant but much more vicious (Turner at Mitton) under him.
3. I yet believe that such a Mans Possession, doth not oblige the people to venture their Souls upon his Pastoral Care; and own him for their Teacher, and seek no other: Nor make it a sin for any other to Teach them? No more than the King's Ships or Armies must wilfully cast away Ships and Lives, for want of Conduct, because a Man that hath no tolerable skill is in Possession. How cheap are Souls, or how contemptible is Ministerial Knowledge and Preaching with these Men. You see here what is the best Church in the World in their account, and what it is to destroy it.
4. Almost two years before the Wars, the Vicar conscious of his obnoxiousness, entered into Bond with the chief Magistrates and others of the Town and Parish, to pay 60 l. per Annum to a Lecturer of their choice, he keeping his Vicarage and officiating as Reader: And so he put out Mr. Jo. Did his Preaching Curate, in whose place I came, being before in another County: Which Mr. Did though more offensive before than the Vicar to the Religious people, being after on my Testimony for him, received into a Benefice of his own, was so reconciled to the people of Kidderminster that he Bequeathed much of his Estate to them.